Orthodontic appliance.



A. KU'RBITZ.

ORTHODONTIC APPLIANCE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 7. I915.

Patented Dec. 5, 1916.

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ALFRED KORBITZ, OF PARTENKIRCHEN, GERMANY.

ORTHODONTIC APPLIANCE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 5, rare.

Application filed July 7, 1915. Serial No. 38,618.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED Konerrz, a subject of the German Emperor, and residing at Partenkirchen, Bavaria, German Empire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Orthodontic Appliances, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention has reference to certain new and useful improvements in orthodontic appliances, and relates more particularly to improvements in anchor bands, such as are extensively used for alinement, expansion, retraction, and general anchoring purposes, and in the manner of resiliently attaching such an anchor band to the arch band; and the invention essentially consists in the construction, arrangement and cooperation of parts, as will hereinafter be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents the complete device; Fig. 2 shows a vertical section through the buccal tube and accessories, mounted on the threaded arch band end, with the clamp band in elevation; Fig. 3 represents a section through the side Wall of the anchor clamp band on line ww in Fig. 2; Figs. 4 and 5 respectively show a'plan and side view of the annular friction closure for the buccal tube, and Fig. 6 represents a fragmental section through the wall of the buccal tube with spring-retaining indentation.

To the clamp or anchor band 1 is secured in well known manner the buccal tube 2, into which in use is introduced the threaded end of the bow spring or arch band 3, and

the tube is retained behind the nut l, which may be secured against working loose in any suitable manner. These parts, as such, are well known in the art.

The tension produced respectively on the anchored tooth or on the arch band is apt to slacken after a time and must then be renewed by manipulation of nut 4. To improve on this drawback it has already been proposed to interpose a helical spring between the tube and the respective nut; but this latter construction has several obvious serious mechanical and hygienic disadvantages, which I effectively avoid, firstly by forming the volute spring of flat band material, and secondly by completely concealing this spring within the buccal tube, so that chafing and clogging-up with food remnants, and the like, is impossible.

A. helical spring of the ordinary steel wire type and freely exposed does not answer the purpose; it is subject to corrosion, and if it is to be of sufficient strength, must be of relatively large cross section, so that the device then would become tooponderous for our purposes. I prefer to make my spring of precious metal, or tantalum, or mechanically hardened alloys, and can then easily regulate its strength by respectively choosing its width, without at the same time altering its lateral cross section. Such aflat band spring 6 takes up less space between the threaded arch wire and the tube wall and can be made much stronger for the space given, than a spring of the usual round wire type. Near the bottomed end of the tube is provideda means for normally retaining the inserted spring-in the inner endposition shown, and in Fig. 2 I have shown for this purpose, by way of example, a small pin 7, behind which the lowermost turn of the spring is twisted. In place of a pin, a

simple indentation 12 (Fig. 6) in the tube wall may also be used with the same effect.

The mouth of the tube, with the latter in position on the arch, is closed by an annular member 8, axially split on one side, as at 9 in Figs. at and 5, and preferably frictionally clamping the arch band. This closure Scomprises the flange portion 10 and the tubular body 11, which latter freely extends into the space between the tube wall and the arch, as shown in Fig. 2, and bears with its lower face against the uppermost turn of the spring 6. The degree of compression of the latter, and consequently the operative tension and extent of relative displacement of the tube is then regulated by the nut 4, as hereinbefore stated.

In disconnecting the parts, the arch band can be withdrawn out of the tube without fear of the closure 8 becoming detached also from the arch band, and the band spring is retained behind the projection 7 until it is intentionally twisted out of the tube, which is conveniently done for instance by means of a pointed match or a tooth pick.

To the buccal tube issecured the clamp or anchor band 1 which is of approximately square shape with rounded-ofl' corners and is of substantially the same width of material throughout. The band is contoured only at the interproximal portions, where the wall is contracted inwardly toward the edges, as shown in Fig. 3, to fit the natural contour of the tooth. Such a band conforms to the requirements a universal, quiclzlyand reliably attachable anchor band for thefollowing reasons :Two sides of a tooth, the buccal and lingual sides respectively, the dentist controls perfectly with his instruments, which obviates the necessity of having the V corresponding sections of the band specially contoured. The other two tooth sides, the interproximal faces, however, are practically i V inaccessible and between each two teeth lie sensitive andeasily injured soft gum tissues, into which a flat walled band is apt to cut or which it would include, so that on tightening the band, parts of the gum papillae would then be bruised or even crushed-01f. The so-called anatomically contoured bands do not obviate this drawback, as they are 'not contoured at :these inaccessible surfaces. Furthermore, the buccal and lingual surfaces of the teeth are rounded off in such a manner that they do not offer a secure support for a'ring of the conventional type under the heavy strain inuse. [The touching sides are rounded Off to some extent solely at the upperrim but are relatively strongly undercut-below, thereby offering to a fullwidth band of-niy construction at this Zone a very secure hold. My improved band shows at thes'e' inner sections contracted upper and lower edges with a straight middleportion, as shown in Fig. 3. Besides these advantages such av sparingly pre-contoured clainp'bandenables the dentist to quickly fit of keeping constantly fu ll sets of bands in variously shaped teeth with but little aftershaping, thus doing away with the necessity stock, each one being contoured to fit only a certain tooth and no other.

' oasis; of thispatent may be obtained for helical spring within said bucca'l tube encircling said arch band, aprojection inwardly extending from said tube for opera- 'tively retaining said spring, and an annular closure for said buccal tube, partly entering the latter and 'itsenlarged upper end normally cooperating with said tube retaining means.

In an orthodontic appliance, a clamp band of substantially square shape with rounded-off corners, whose buccal and lingual portions are practically straight across their height and whose cross portions are contracted inwardly toward the upper and lower edges res e tively, with a straight middle zone between said contracted. zones, the height of the "band being practically uniform throughout. v V

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses. i

Q ALFRED KORBITZ. Witnesses:

'ERANZ Don, MAX Wn'rnnBAon.

{five cents eachgby addressing the Commissioner of =Patents, Washington, 110. 

